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County signs on to RISE pilot for Boothbay peninsula, authorizes DACF inland planning contract
Summary
Lincoln County approved participation in a RISE (Rural Infrastructure Strengths Evaluation) pilot on the Boothbay peninsula and authorized the administrator to sign an annual DACF municipal planning assistance contract for inland technical assistance covering Jefferson, Somerville and Whitefield.
Commissioners authorized county staff to participate in a pilot economic-development program for Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor and approved an annual municipal planning assistance contract with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF).
County planning staff described a Rural Infrastructure Strengths Evaluation (RISE) pilot being implemented by RCAP Solutions and an Economic Recovery Corps fellow, Elise Oliver. The project will focus on identifying existing economic strengths and prioritized, implementable actions for targeted projects such as workforce housing, parking solutions and other local infrastructure. The planning office said RCAP’s approach emphasizes implementation support rather than producing a report that is “shelved.”
“RCAP Solutions often says they want to put themselves out of business — they aim to set communities up to implement the work,” planning staff told the board.
The commissioners authorized the county administrator to sign letter agreements with RCAP Solutions and the fellow to facilitate community engagement, surveys of municipal officials, targeted outreach and mapping support. The planning office said the fellow will arrange stakeholder meetings and the county will provide outreach assistance, background materials and GIS files as needed.
Separately, the board approved an annual DACF municipal planning assistance contract for inland technical assistance (TA) to serve Jefferson, Somerville and Whitefield beginning in fiscal year 2026. Staff said the inland TA contract amount listed in the packet was $1,231 and that a coastal TA amendment (funded in part by NOAA) will follow when federal paperwork is completed.
Planning staff also reported progress on a county “site inventory” and a Department of Economic and Community Development housing-opportunities grant to evaluate sewer and water extension feasibility to priority sites. They said they have received encouraging responses from several sewer and water districts and expect municipal and utility submissions for the feasibility study by the end of next week.
The board approved both the RISE agreements and the DACF inland contract and directed staff to proceed with coordinating community outreach and consultant site visits as property-owner permissions are obtained.
